Our Mission The mission of State Parks is fter the springtime to provide for the health, inspiration and A education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological snow runoff, take a trip State Recreation Area diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities up the middle fork of the for high-quality outdoor recreation. Feather to see the spectacular 640-foot . When the California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who lake is high, you can boat need assistance should contact the park at (530) 538-2219. This publication can be to within a quarter-mile made available in alternate formats. Contact [email protected] or call (916) 654-2249. of the falls.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

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Lake Oroville State Recreation Area 400 Glen Drive Oroville, CA 95966 (530) 538-2219

© 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2013) L ake Oroville State Recreation Area was found to be rich in gold, feet, the lake includes some 15,500 surface is located on the Feather River in the entrepreneurs and gold seekers flooded into acres for recreation; 167 miles of shoreline chaparral-oak-pine belt of northern mother- the area, taking land and establishing allow boaters to land and explore the lode country. Lake Oroville, about 75 miles several small mining towns. Most towns are surrounding country. north of Sacramento, is the largest state now under the lake. A tent city named Ophir in northern California. (“gold” in Hebrew) became the present city WILDLIFE The lake’s climate varies with the seasons. of Oroville. The newcomers also brought An abundant, varied wildlife population Summer temperatures at the lower elevations diseases to which the native people had no inhabits the area of Lake Oroville. The range from 85 to 100 degrees and from 60 to resistance, so their numbers dwindled. Today resident species include mountain lions, 70 degrees in the evenings. It is cooler year- many Maidu people live on local rancherias, raccoons, turkeys, opossums, coyotes, tree round at the higher elevations, with winter including those at Oroville and Chico. and ground squirrels, rabbits, deer, skunks, temperatures ranging from about 30 degrees ringtails, bears and many kinds of to the mid-50s. Annual rainfall ranges from native birds. about 26 inches near the Thermalito Forebay to about 60 inches at higher elevations. THE VISITOR CENTER Spring and fall are usually mild, with pleasant A visitor center days and cooler evenings. complex atop Kelly Ridge features NATIVE PEOPLE interpretive displays, For thousands of years, this area was home to an audio-visual room the Northwest Maidu people. A typical village with on-request videos, might consist of a few families, or it might and a 47-foot viewing Coyote have 500 or more inhabitants. Often there tower overlooking the was a “main” village with sweathouses and Aerial view of Oroville lake and dam. To reach the visitor center, other common-use ceremonial buildings. The continue up Boulevard beyond the dam turnoff, or take Kelly Ridge Road off Maidu were hunters and gatherers. Acorns THE DAM were their main food source, and nutritional In 1967 Lake Oroville was created by Oroville Olive Highway. Restrooms are located in the variety came from large and small game, Dam, at 770 feet the nation’s tallest earthen courtyard. nuts, berries, seeds and fish from what is dam. The lake conserves water distributed by RECREATION now the Feather River. In 1820 Captain Luis the State Water Project to homes, farms and Lake Oroville offers camping, boat-in Arguello was exploring the area and named industries in the San Francisco Bay area, the camping, floating campsites, horse camping the river Río de las Plumas (River of Feathers) San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. and horseback riding, hiking, mountain because the sunlight reflecting on its surface Oroville’s facilities provide flood control, biking, both sailing and power boating, resembled floating feathers. smog-free generation of electric power and waterskiing, fishing, picnicking and swimming. The lives of the Maidu were disrupted recreation. At its maximum fill level of 900 after the 1848 gold discovery. When the CAMPING up to 40 feet. Facilities include a lakeside camp accommodates up to 75 people. Sites Please camp only in designated areas. marina with a launch ramp, store, snack bar, have tables, stoves, pit toilets and garbage Reservations are recommended from late fuel dock, boat rental and a pumping station cans. Bring your own drinking water. spring through Labor Day. Reserve all for boat holding tanks. campsites at (800) 444-7275. Spillway — Shaded picnic sites and overnight PICNICKING AND BOATING Loafer Creek — 137 sites at the Coyote camping for self-contained RVs are located North Thermalito Forebay is reserved Campground can accommodate tents at the north end of the dam. Drive across exclusively for sailboats, canoes and other or trailers up to 31 feet and campers or Oroville Dam to reach the facilities, which non-motorized boats. The shaded, grassy motorhomes up to 40 feet (no hookups). include a launch ramp and restrooms. day-use areas have barbecue stoves and Drinking water and restrooms, coin-operated Lime Saddle — Hookup and non-hookup picnic tables near a 200-yard sandy swimming showers, laundry tubs and a launch ramp are sites accommodate RVs. Features include a beach. Four shaded ramadas can be reserved five-lane launch ramp, picnic facilities and for picnic groups. Piped drinking water and restrooms. The nearby marina offers boat restrooms are nearby. docking, fuel, fishing boat rentals, boating The Forebay Aquatic Center, at North supplies, a store and snack bar. Thermalito Forebay, offers watercraft rentals Floating Campsites and classes seasonally. The nonprofit Feather You will need a boat — your own or a rental River Rowing Club partners with California boat from the marina — to reach the ten 20’ State Parks, the Department of Water x 24’ floating sites. Each site sleeps up to 15 Resources and local recreation districts. people and has a camp table, sink, propane South Forebay has a paved launch ramp One of the lake’s floating campsites barbecue grill (propane provided), a lockable for fishing and power boats, parking and restrooms, but no drinking water. nearby. An RV sanitation station is available. closet, an accessible restroom, a covered Loafer Creek Area has a seasonal swim Six group sites accommodate up to 25 living area, an upper sun deck/sleeping beach and lawn area with 100 picnic sites. persons each: limit of eight vehicles per area and room for tents. Bring your own Overnight boating is permitted, but boats site. Larger groups may reserve more than drinking water. must have self-contained sanitary facilities, one site. Boat-in Camps and all waste and water outlets on board must Horse camping — Loafer Creek Horse Camp Boat-in camping is first-come, first-served, be sealed. Use sanitation stations around the has 15 campsites, an accessible restroom and only in designated campsites identified lake at the marinas. with showers, pipe corrals, and horse exercise by signs at beach areas around the lake. Ask Boat mooring is permitted except where and washing stations. Bloomer Horse Camp directions to your camp at the park entrance posted otherwise; marina berths are leased has three first-come, first-served seasonal or launching area. Each camp has six to by prior arrangement. Overnight camping campsites, with a vault toilet and no showers twenty-six individual campsites; boat camps on shore while boating is not permitted, or running water. Check in at the Spillway are located at Craig Saddle, Foreman Point, with the exception of the boat-in campsites; kiosk before the ten-mile ride to camp. Goat Ranch and the Bloomer Primitive Area however, boaters are welcome to go ashore Bidwell Canyon — 75 sites with hookups at Bloomer Point — Bloomer Knoll, Bloomer for day use. accommodate trailers up to 31 feet and RVs Cove and Bloomer Group Camp. The group SWIMMING autumn. To schedule guided group tours, areas, marinas and fish-cleaning stations The Loafer Creek area and North Forebay please call (530) 534-2306 or visit all have accessible features. Some accessible near the Aquatic Center are the only http://www.water.ca.gov/recreation/ sites with hook-ups may be reserved at designated swimming areas at the lake. locations/oroville/fishhatchery.cfm Bidwell Canyon. The 5.5-mile bike trail is Lifeguard service is seasonal only; do not barrier-free, and four other trails offer some allow children to swim unattended. Accessible features accessibility. The visitor centers are accessible. Accessibility is continually improving. For FISHING The park’s campgrounds, restrooms, picnic updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. Rainbow and German-brown trout, large- and smallmouth bass, black and spotted bass, PLEASE REMEMBER and some catfish and salmon are caught Dumping — The dumping of waste or refuse • Night boating — Only boats equipped with here. All anglers over age 16 must carry a in any of the area’s water is prohibited at all the proper running lights may use the lake California sport fishing license. Shore and times. Please help keep Lake Oroville clean. at night. The speed limit is five miles per boat fishing are permitted in the North and Sanitation stations and floating restrooms have hour when it is dark. South Forebays, but no motorized boats are been placed at strategic locations. • Securing boats — If you leave your boat to allowed in the North. Do not fish or take your Driftwood — Because it is not part of the area’s go ashore, be sure to tie it up. boat into the designated swim areas. natural ecosystem, driftwood can be collected • Lake level — Lake level fluctuates daily and used for fuel. It can be found in the lake throughout the year. Summer and fall draw THE FEATHER RIVER FISH HATCHERY and its tributaries or ashore between the down (lower); winter and spring rise. This The Department of Fish and Wildlife operates actual lake level and the high-water mark. change in surface level also changes the a two-part salmon and steelhead hatchery location of shoals near shore, so look for at 5 Table Mountain Blvd., Oroville 95965. BOATING varying hazards. Underwater windows in the barrier dam’s • Boating rules — All boaters should be observation area permit close-up viewing of familiar with boating rules and regulations. CAMPING the fish ladder during spawning. The ABCs of California Boating from the • Fires and fuel — In hot weather, extreme fire At the fish hatchery building across the Division of Boating and Waterways may be hazard conditions exist; fires are permitted only in designated fire rings and barbecues street, artificial spawning takes place in the found at any park entrance or marina or at www.dbw.parks.ca.gov. within campsites. No ground fires. Call 911 • Speed limits — The speed limit is five miles or contact the nearest park employee to per hour within 100 feet of a swimmer or 200 report a fire. feet of any shore, boat-launching facility or • Firewood — Dead wood (not driftwood) is a designated mooring area. Water skiing is not normal part of the park’s ecosystem, so its permitted in the narrow upper reaches of collection and use are prohibited. Firewood the lake’s tributaries. can be purchased from camp hosts. Use • Boating tips — Floating logs and other propane- or gas-fueled camp stoves and driftwood are boating hazards, especially charcoal-burning barbecues only within during the winter and spring when heavy designated camping or day-use areas. rains wash dangerous debris into the lake. The fishing is great year-round. 800'

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